Krumboltz Happenstance Learning Theory

A theory is simply an explanation for understanding how things happen and why. A learning theory about career development explains how people discover their current occupations through a variety of different learning experiences. Within the learning theory framework, how occupations—accountant, senator, plumber—developed from life's learning experiences can be explained. Our society advocates that people plan and declare an occupational goal early in life. A common question asked of children is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Paradoxically, very few adults are doing exactly what they planned at age 18. Unplanned events play a major role in everyone's career development. If serendipity is included as a crucial part of the learning process, we have what can be called a happenstance learning theory.

Throughout life people have innumerable learning experiences. Every minute people are engaged in learning activities whether they know it or not. Some experiences are planned, many are not. Every time a person talks to another person, he or she learns something. Every time a person watches TV, listens to the radio, or plays a game, he or she learns something. The happenstance learning theory categorizes learning experiences into two major categories: instrumental and associative.

Instrumental learning experiences are those in which people take some action and observe the consequences. For example, if a child is playing a game of baseball, comes up to bat, and hits well enough to get on base, the child has succeeded in an activity and has positive feelings as a result. Another child may come to bat and be unable to hit the ball at all, striking out. The happenstance learning theory posits that it is more likely that the first child would develop greater aspirations for a baseball career than the second child. The more children actively engage in activities, the more likely they are to encounter valuable learning experiences. Every time people do something—that is, engage actively—they find out what happens as a result and discover how they feel about it.

All instrumental learning experiences take place in a cultural and opportunity context. Baseball is a popular sport in the United States. Cricket is popular in England and India. In some other countries both sports are virtually unknown. The environment in which one is born and raised provides only certain types of learning opportunities.

Associative learning experiences occur as people watch, listen to, or read about others. For example, listening to a rock concert might inspire some people to become a rock singer. Reading about a science experiment might inspire some people to train to become chemists or biologists. Watching a carpenter at work may inspire others to discover the glories of wood working.

All of these associative learning experiences also depend on cultural context. For example, the opportunity to read about a scientist's experience depends on access to books. Some people live far from the nearest public library. Some families subscribe to magazines [Page 1567]and newspapers that children might spontaneously browse; other families may not. Some parents read to their children at a young age, opening a world of imagination and early literacy; other parents may not.

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